Lou Niedorkorn, 1927-2013

Chief electrician served as go-to guy at Drake Hotel

July 15, 2013|By Joan Giangrasse Kates, Special to the Tribune

Lou Niedorkorn, a World War II Navy veteran and longtime electrician at the Drake Hotel, died July 3.

One of Lou Niedorkorn's first jobs as an electrician was in the early 1950s on an open catwalk 37 stories up, operating what was known as the "Lindbergh Beacon" atop the Palmolive Building on North Michigan Avenue.

The light was a Chicago landmark and a navigation aid to pilots, who reportedly could see it from 300 miles away.

"It wasn't his favorite job, mostly because he worked outside in all kinds of weather," said his son Guy. "But he had a wife and two small children at home to feed."

According to his family, Mr. Niedorkorn would look down at night at the brightly illuminated Drake Hotel on nearby East Walton Street — one of the city's most prestigious and storied hotels — and think to himself what a wonderful place that would be to work.

Mr. Niedorkorn got his wish in 1953, landing an entry-level electrician job at the Drake, where "he started out changing light bulbs," his son said. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the hotel's chief electrician, on call 24 hours, seven days a week, and part of the 70-some member in-house crew that kept the hotel running smoothly, especially during emergencies.

Mr. Niedorkorn, 85, who after 30 years at the Drake left to become an electrical contractor before retiring in 1990, died of myelodysplastic syndrome blood disorder Wednesday, July 3, in his Park Ridge home.

"Lou was a great guy with a great sense of humor," said former co-worker Jim Dunne, retired chief plumber at the Drake. "He was a top-notch electrician, one of the best. He'd walk through the door each morning with a smile and a 'How do?'"

On stormy nights, Mr. Niedorkorn would go to bed in his work clothes, ready to head over to the hotel at a moment's notice.

"There was one time when (the hotel) lost power during a downpour, but only in the kitchen," his son said. "They were still serving dinner, so it was very tense until he got things up and running again."

The son of a butcher, Mr. Niedorkorn was born and raised on the Northwest Side. While still in his teens, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific theater as a water tender in the boiler room of a landing ship during World War II.

After the war, Mr. Niedorkorn returned to his family's home in Chicago and married Santa Rincione, his wife of 63 years. He lived with his family in Norridge, before moving to Park Ridge during the 1970s.

During his tenure at the Drake, Mr. Niedorkorn also became the go-to man — on and off the job — to the late Edwin "Larry" Brashears Jr., the hotel's president, whose family owned the Drake.

Brashears, an avid sailor, sought the expertise of his chief electrician in helping him build two ice boats, and also invited him to serve as a member of the crew aboard his family's yacht during sailing trips up and down the East Coast.

"Those trips were some of his best memories," his son said. "And to think, it all started with a job."

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Niedorkorn also is survived by another son, Gary; a sister, Marilyn Glowinski; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.